Compositions and uses of antimicrobial materials with tissue-compatible properties

Abstract

Compositions comprising a mixture of an antimicrobial cationic polypeptide and a second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer are disclosed, as well as methods and uses thereof for the treatment and prevention of infections that occur when our natural barriers of defense are broken.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A dressing material comprising:
 one or more synthetic, cationic polypeptide(s) with antimicrobial activity; and   a second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer that is not a synthetic, cationic polypeptide(s);   wherein the amount of the second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer is at least about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the one or more synthetic, cationic polypeptide(s); and   wherein one or more of the synthetic cationic polypeptide(s) comprise a segment having a chain length of at least 40 amino acid residues.   
     
     
         3 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the dressing material further comprises a gauze or sponge. 
     
     
         4 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, alginate, collagen, polymeric Surfactant, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, polyvinyl pyrolidinone (PVP), fibrin(ogen), blood proteins and tissue proteins. 
     
     
         5 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer is cellulose. 
     
     
         6 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the synthetic cationic polypeptide(s) is characterized by at least one segment containing at least five consecutive cationic amino acid residues and at least one segment containing at least five consecutive hydrophobic amino acid residues. 
     
     
         7 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the synthetic cationic polypeptide(s) comprise a segment having a chain length of 50 to 200 lysine amino acid residues. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial activity is greater than 3 logs killing of  Staphylococcus epidermidis  and  Escherichia coli  in standard 60-minute time kill assays at a synthetic cationic polypeptide(s) concentration of 1 mg/mL or less. 
     
     
         9 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of the second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer is at least about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the one or more synthetic, cationic polypeptide(s). 
     
     
         10 . The dressing material of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of the second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer is at least about 50% by weight, based on the weight of the one or more synthetic, cationic polypeptide(s). 
     
     
         11 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the composition has pro-coagulant activity or pro-hemostatic activity. 
     
     
         12 . The dressing material of  claim 2 , wherein the synthetic, cationic polypeptide(s) and the second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer are mutually miscible in water 
     
     
         13 . A method for the prevention, inhibition, or treatment of infection in a subject, said method comprising contacting a tissue of the subject with the dressing material of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of applying negative-pressure to the tissue. 
     
     
         15 . A method of prevention of infection, treatment of infections, treatment for topical anti-infection, treatment for microbial decolonization, wound treatment, surgical site treatment, trauma treatment, burn treatment, treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, eye treatment, treatment of vaginal infections, treatment of urinary tract infections, hand sanitization, for coating prosthetic devices and/or implants, food preservation, or solution preservation comprising applying the dressing material of  claim 2  to a surface on which antimicrobial activity is desired.